Fleming Squadron Information

 

      We are based at Detachment 410, of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Here is a link to a map of the area.

        Richard E. Fleming Squadron is a part of Area VII/G.

Richard E. Fleming was an aviator in the United States Marine Corp. Captain Fleming, a flight officer of a Marine scout bombing squadron, was born in St. Paul on Novermber 2nd, 1917. He attended St. Thomas Military Academy and graduated in 1935. During his senior year there, he was chosen as top student officer. From there he went to the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1939. After graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and applied for flight training. He was sent to the Naval Air Station at Pennsicola, Florida for training and finished at the top of his class in 1940. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in April, 1942, and to Captain a month later.

For 6 months following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Fleming's squadrons patrolled the air near the Midway, never making enemy contact. In his letters, Fleming fretted about spending the war in the backwaters.

This would soon change. On June 4, 1942 Fleming's squadrons were ordered to attack the Japanese Fleet. Scores of American aircraft never returned. Fleming's commanding officer was killed and Fleming's aircraft limped back with 171 holes in it after he failed to drop a bomb on the aircraft carrier Akaqi. Fleming received two slight wounds.

The next day prompted the squadron commander , Captain Fleming, and the remnants of his squadrons to return to the battle. Fleming directed his aircraft in a screaming dive at the Japanese cruiser Mikuma. The enemy ship was struck with the bomb, then by Fleming's plane. A Japanese officer later wrote that it was a suicide bombing.

There was a tremendous blast as the gasoline from Fleming's plane flowed down into the Mikuma's engine room where the fumes ignited and exploded, killing the entire engine room crew.  The Mikuma, now gutted and helpless, laid wallowing in the water. The following day U.S. bombers found the helpless cruisers and the Mikuma, which later rolled over and sank.

Captain Richard Fleming was the only man to win the Congressional Medal of Honor during this crucial battle.

President Roosevelt bestowed the Nation's highest decoration posthumously upon Capt. Richard E. Fleming, Marine pilot cited for heroic action in the battle of Midway. He presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to the flyers mother, Mrs. Mechael E. Fleming of St. Paul Minnesota. 

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